Joe's 21-month fight against leukemia ended Saturday night. He was surrounded by our sons, his parents, Paul's best friend Andy, and me when he passed peacefully. Last Friday, Joe had moved into hospice care at home, after receiving final transfusions at Carle, so we knew we didn't have much time left with him. Each day this week was a treasured gift.
A ceremony to celebrate Joe's life will take place on Saturday, November 17, at 10:00 a.m. at Faith United Methodist Church on Prospect Ave in Champaign. We hope many of you can join us. Joe has written a final blog entry that we will read at that ceremony and then post on Joe's Blasts.
To carry on Joe's long-time commitment to youth soccer in Champaign-Urbana, we have established the Joe Seeley Scholarship Fund with the Illinois Futbol Club (formerly LISC). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to "Illinois FC" with "Joe Seeley Scholarship Fund" on the memo line of the check, and checks can be mailed to the following address:
Illinois FC
Attn: Joe Seeley Scholarship Fund
2310 N. Willow Rd.
Urbana, IL 61802
We are so grateful to all of you who have faithfully followed Joe's blog during his journey. Your comments about Joe's posts meant a great deal to him, and buoyed him during his toughest times.
We are also grateful to Joe's doctors at the University of Chicago Medical Center and for the care he received recently at Carle.
Lastly, we cannot thank enough everyone who has supported Joe and us during his illness. Your many acts of kindness helped us more than you may realize. ---
Jan Seeley (the shorter half of "Team J")
= = =
Love you all so much.
ReplyDeleteJoe is perhaps the finest human being I have ever known in person. His passing is a tragedy for the world at large as well as for his family and all who knew him.
ReplyDeleteI wondered at first why the memorial service is to be at Faith United instead of the Friends Meetinghouse...until I realized one reason is that the Meetinghouse is not nearly large enough for the number of people who will be coming to pay their last respects to Joe Seeley.
If there is a Heaven, the quality of its membership just improved.
Yes, that's right: the Champaign-Urbana Friends Meeting house holds barely 50 people and was not suitable for Joe's service. We have several friends who worship at FUMC, and we are grateful to Pastor Brad for letting us memorialize Joe at his church. --- Jan Seeley
DeleteI am so sorry, Jan, Jake and Paul. Our sincere condolences.
DeleteSue Rogers Leyden and family
Jan, Jake, and Paul,
ReplyDeleteMy condolences.
Thank you for sharing Joe with us over these last 21 months. You and Joe taught us a lot over this difficult period. You and Joe reminded us how to face adversity and how necessary it is to be an advocate for yourself no matter the situation. You and Joe showed us that letting friends (even those us us how havent seen you in 25+ years) into the most private aspects of your life is a good thing.
Thanks sharing and know that in this tragedy you have helped make all of us around you better people.
Jeff Loeb
I'll be thinking of Joe's awesome smile as I run today. It -- and he -- will not be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteJan, Jake and Paul,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. I admire your and Joe's courage in facing this illness and your family's wisdom in knowing what was truly important in life. Through his writings, Joe taught me a lot about living and is an inspiration to me. Thank you for sharing him with us. I am holding you and your family in the Light.
Joan N
I am so sorry, Jan. Joe was a fine man. Peace be with you, Jake, and Paul.
ReplyDeleteSara Latta
Jan said it best in a text message yesterday afternoon: "Heart break." Thinking about Joe, and thinking of Jan and Jake and Paul...
ReplyDeleteclaire
Jan, thinking of you and praying for God's comfort to surround you during this time and always.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Love you,
Chris Gillespie
I am so sad to hear this. You will be missed Joe. My prayers are with you Jan, Jake and Paul.
ReplyDeleteJoe M.
<3 2 U all.
ReplyDeleteGodspeed.
Jan, you and your family are in my prayers. Thank you for sharing your Joe with all of us.
ReplyDeleteWith my most heartfelt sympathy,
Silvana
Rose and I are so sorry to hear this, Jan. Needless to say, we will be in touch--and we certainly will keep you in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteJan, Jake, and Paul: What a heartbreaking loss. I am glad to know Joe was in the circle of his loved ones when he passed. His imprint on the world is deep. I hope that knowing that might offer some measure of comfort amid your grief. Thinking of you all--Molly and Mitchell
ReplyDeleteJan,
ReplyDeleteJoe shared so much, he was truly inspirational.
Thank you.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss,
And, we can never thank Joe enough for sharing with us! He inspired me many times with his words and actions through his blog! You too, Jan, have inspired me a lot more than I'm sure you know!
ReplyDeleteWhile Laura and I are so sad for your loss, we feel relief for Joe in the many battles he was fighting with this disease. My gosh! I just don't know how he was able to stay so positive and add humor to his posts when he just had to be so uncomfortable, literally, in his own skin!
We send you all our love and I myself wish I could give you a big, warm, gooey hug!
Love and strength to you and all your family and all of Joe's many friends, Tracy and Laura
Dear Jan,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your and your family's loss. You and your family are in our hearts. Please know, never forget, how much one person makes a difference.
Leigh (and Tom and Shea)
Jan, Jake, and Paul,
ReplyDeleteYour hearts are broken ~ all of ours are heavy at this time. Let us give thanks that Joe crossed his finish line as we prayed he would ~ peacefully. He is now quite literally "in his glory". No more suffering. Thank you for allowing us to travel this path with all of you. We're better people because of it.
Joe's legacy is a great one. We will join with you to celebrate his life on November 17th.
His is a life that will be remembered... always.
All our love and continued support,
R & R
Jan,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. Many of our lives have been touched by your journey with Joe. I am inspired by his strength and resilience. May you find peace and comfort surrounded by your family.
Shelly
Jan, Jake,Paul (and Robert and Charlotte),
ReplyDeleteMy life was much better for having had Joe in it. His imprint on our family will never fade. Janelle Drackley and family
Jan, Jake and Paul....
ReplyDeleteYou are all in our thoughts and prayers. Sending you big warm hugs...please know that we love you guys.
Diane and Jack Merlo
I only met Joe a few times through the marathon, but you could just tell that everyone in the room with him had the utmost respect and love for him. I will never forget that.
ReplyDeleteYou and your family are in my thoughts, we are all here for you.
With much love,
Kate
Knowing it was coming does not make it any easier! Tears and heartbreaks---Dear Jan Jake and Paul, please know this crushing grief is shared by so many of us who have known Joe.
ReplyDeleteMuch love, Chifan
Thinking of you and the boys. Joe was the best...he will be missed. Love and light,
ReplyDeleteDeb Lister
Dear Jan,
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of you and your family and I send you all much love and light.
Much love,
Neil
We are addened with all of you who grieve. You are in my prayers today. Joe was a strong man of faith and conviction and today he is singing and dancing in the presence of God. God is good, all the time. God promises us a life eternal where there is no sickness, no more pain, no more sorrow. Thanks be to God.
ReplyDeleteJan,
ReplyDeleteI hope you,Jake and Paul take strength from the support of friends all around you.
We love you.
We grieve with you.
We will comfort and carry you when the road is rough.
And we will keep Joe's memory alive.
May your hearts find peace,
Lori
Jan--I can't seem to find the words. I will never forget how you and Joe helped me through some very tough times. Joe was a wonderful human being; a joy to know and to call a friend.
ReplyDeletePlease know that you have a whole lot of people who care about you, Jake, and Paul, and support you and love you. We wrap you in light and love.
Joe will live on in my heart.
This is a painful and difficult time. The memories will help as you keep his light glowing in your heart.
Love and many hugs.
Freddi
My thoughts are with all of you. I knew Joe was a unique and special human being when I first met him years ago at NovaNet. His courage, humor, candor, and generosity in both action and spirit during his fight with leukemia have only confirmed and further elevated that view. My condolences to his family and all who are missing him now.
ReplyDeleteSusan in Tucson.
I just got back from a run along the riverbank in Tempe, thinking of Joe along the way. The JE Class of 1982 has lost a great one. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
ReplyDelete- Jim O'Neill
My prayers won't stop with Joe's passing. Jan, Jake, and Paul, so many of us are lifting you up daily.
ReplyDeleteI did not know Joe, but I came across his obituary. Taking his readers along for the journey -- from diagnosis to his final days -- was a very courageous thing for Joe to do. And it will help others, I am sure of it. I've spent the past hour reading through old posts and I wish I found this blog a long time ago and gotten to know Joe when he was alive. He seems like a great guy to call a friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family during this time.
ReplyDeleteLifting your family up in prayer.
ReplyDeleteThere are no words. Jan, Jake and Paul; we love you all so very much, as we did Joe. Distance does not, nor has it ever diminished our feelings for you all. We simply love you and greive with you.
ReplyDeleteAlways,
Tom, Stacey, Ryan and Lucy
Joe was a gift. I was so delighted to reconnect with him, so sure he would beat leukemia, so pleased to cheer him on in his incredible battle (that was so eloquently recorded in this blog) and now, so incredibly sad he's gone so soon. (I know - so many so's) Jan, Jake and Paul - we've never met, though I've heard about you and read about you, and I send you all the love and support I can through the internet and the US mail. Everyone who ever knew Joe was better for the experience.
ReplyDeletewith love,
Sarah
We just heard. With love through tears we think of you Jan, Jake, Paul and dear Joe. For the long run....
ReplyDeleteYours, Janet and Sam
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your sons, Jan. Mr. Seeley was a fine man and he will be remembered.
ReplyDeleteMylove
6NW RN
What a great guy! I only knew him a short time but he will be greatly missed! we will be sending prayers to you and the boys!
ReplyDeleteKerry-
onco RN
Jan,
ReplyDeleteI find myself still opening Joe's Blog every morning, knowing that there won't be a new post but wanting to take a moment to think about him, his courageous fight with this terrible disease that has also taken some of my loved ones before him. During this time I think about you, Jake and Paul and the rest of your family and want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Lynn Zoll